Homily for January 21st, 2019: Mark 2:18-22.
To understand
the question about fasting in today’s gospel we must know that for Jesus’
people fasting was a way of mourning and of expressing sorrow for sin. Still
today observant Jews fast on the Day of Atonement, to express sorrow for the
sins they have committed in the past year. The people who ask Jesus why his
disciples do not fast are aware that John the Baptist taught his disciples to
fast. He did so because repentance was central in the Baptist’s preaching.
Responding to
the question about why Jesus has not taught his
disciples to fast, he replies simply that as long as he is with them,
fasting is inappropriate. This is a time not for mourning, Jesus says, but for
joy. God has come to earth in human form. Taking up a theme which is frequent
in the Old Testament, Jesus refers to himself as the bridegroom. Israel
This invitation is renewed every time
Mass is celebrated. Despite our unworthiness God uses us priests to extend his
invitation: “Everything is ready; come to the feast.” God, the host at this
banquet, longs to have you with him. He wants to fill you with his goodness,
his power, his purity, his love.
He cannot fill you unless you come.
He cannot fill you unless you are
empty.
He
cannot fill you unless you confess your need, which means acknowledging your
unworthiness.
How
often have you heard this invitation before? How often will you hear it again?
One day you will hear it for the last
time. Then you will receive another invitation: to appear before your divine
Master, your King, your Creator, your ever loving Lord. Will you encounter him as a stern
judge, before whom you shrink in fear? Or will it be an encounter with a
familiar, dearly loved friend? Think about it. Even more importantly – pray
about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment